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Car Forum / Honda Cars / January 200710 Year old Radiator
What is your opinion of this? I recently heard on Motorwatch radio that a 10 year old radiator should be replaced. I have 1 1997 Honda Civic with 140,000 miles. The coolant was changed every 2 years with factory fill. I have also been using wetter water for the past three years. I am not having any cooling problems. Is it necessary to replace the radiator in this car? Julien >What is your opinion of this? >I recently heard on Motorwatch radio that a 10 year old radiator should >be replaced. I have 1 1997 Honda Civic with 140,000 miles. The coolant >was changed every 2 years with factory fill. I have also been using >wetter water for the past three years. I am not having any cooling >problems. Is it necessary to replace the radiator in this car? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. On 1/12/07 12:35 PM, in article slrneqfl7a.l4f.aznomad.2@ip70-176-155-130.ph.ph.cox.net, "AZ Nomad" <aznomad.2@PremoveOBthisOX.COM> wrote: >> What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Amen to that! You are just asking for trouble when you start changing things that work as they are. Wait until it leaks. It'll give you plenty of warning. I would just keep in mind that, among at least early 1990s Hondas, most are on their second radiator by now. My 91 Civic is. I am not sure that Honda radiator design changed much by 1997. Definitely replace any 10-year-old thermostat, though, and ONLY with OEM. I am frugal and I am not kidding about paying a few bucks more for OEM on this one. > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Julien >I would just keep in mind that, among at least early 1990s >Hondas, most are on their second radiator by now. My 91 >Civic is. I am not sure that Honda radiator design changed >much by 1997. >Definitely replace any 10-year-old thermostat, though, and >ONLY with OEM. I am frugal and I am not kidding about paying >a few bucks more for OEM on this one. Get every single hose too including those going to the heater core. Might as well replace the water pump and thermostat too while you're doing a cooling system overhaul. > Get every single hose too including those going to the > heater core. > Might as well replace the water pump and thermostat too > while you're > doing a cooling system overhaul. Nomad, you're one of the reputable regulars around these parts, so did you forget that the water pump is a bear to get to, thus it's usually done during a timing belt job, and so at the same interval? All else you listed make sense (to me) for replacement for a Honda 10-years-old. I'd just hold off on the water pump until the next TB change. Julien Antkies Wrote: > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Julien Do not believe everything you hear on radio or TV. I would go with as stated do not fix unless it is broke, Just watch the coolant level and for rad seeps. Where you have keep the coolant serviced good. It could outlast the car Good Luck MT  SignatureMT-2500 http://www.automotiveforums.com Julien Antkies <redvw@yahoo.com> wrote in news:O8Oph.107$3w7.32 @newsfe12.lga: > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > wetter water for the past three years. I am not having any cooling > problems. Is it necessary to replace the radiator in this car? Leave the damned thing alone unless it's leaking or the fins are falling into dust. Taken care of and protected from corrosion, these last almost forever. I say "almost" because it is possible for the plastic tanks to crack if the rad is abused. It *would* be wise to replace the big rad hoses, as they're the ones that do the catastrophic splits on you. Those should be changed every five or six years as a matter of course. AZ Nomad states the water pump may need changing. Has this been replaced at every timing belt change? If so, you're fine and don't need to replace that either. The little heater hoses and the even tinier engine control coolant hoses are not much of a problem. When they leak, it's usually a drip or pee-stream. Lots of time to get them fixed. And don't overtighten the clamps on the ends. That's usually what makes them leak in the first place. SignatureTegger The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ >Taken care of and protected from corrosion, these last almost forever. I >say "almost" because it is possible for the plastic tanks to crack if the >rad is abused. Honda has some issues with the radiators in the 92 Acura Legend (and probably whatever else shared that radiator) where the tanks would leak. I was told this was a well-known problem. SignatureMike Iglesias Email: iglesias@uci.edu University of California, Irvine phone: 949-824-6926 Network & Academic Computing Services FAX: 949-824-2069 >>Taken care of and protected from corrosion, these last almost forever. >>I say "almost" because it is possible for the plastic tanks to crack [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > probably whatever else shared that radiator) where the tanks would > leak. I was told this was a well-known problem. OK, so there's an exception to my assertions. But for 99% of the Hondas on the road, what I said is true. And the OP's car isn't a '92 Legend. SignatureTegger The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ >> Taken care of and protected from corrosion, these last almost forever. I >> say "almost" because it is possible for the plastic tanks to crack if the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > whatever else shared that radiator) where the tanks would leak. I was told > this was a well-known problem. yes, the plastic tanks tend to crack and leak after an extended period, often about 10 years - but it's not a honda problem it's common across most plastic tank types. but the benefits of plastic include ability to use aluminum matrix, no solder, light weight, more economic materials, etc. since most matrix cores tend to clog, get bashed and or/decay in this time frame anyway, the benefits tend to outweigh the one disadvantage. is wetter water like dry beer? > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Julien > is wetter water like dry beer? > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >>Julien It is a heat transfer agent by Redline I bet the leaking radiators are due to not using Honda antifreeze. > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Julien >I bet the leaking radiators are due to not using Honda antifreeze. I don't think so. Mine leaked ('94 Integra GS-R) and I always use Honda antifreeze. >> What is your opinion of this? >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> >> Julien Agreed, about 10 years you can replace it preventatively. Also change out the hoses (including heater hoses and bypass hoses) and thermostat. If you want to save some money and wait until it leaks, then keep a good eye on it. The top plastic tank can crack and you can start losing coolant from the radiator with the reservoir still full. The hairline crack is hard to see sometimes. Or the o-ring between the top tank and the aluminum core hardens and starts to leak. I've used Modine (now Proliance) from the local NAPA parts store or Koyo. No problems with aftermarket here and the price is right. But only OEM thermostat, coolant and distilled water if not prediluted. I use Gates belts and hoses. Excellent stuff. Proliance: www.pliii.com Gates: www.gates.com > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Julien >What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Julien I think back to my 1976 Datsun PU truck that I kept 23 years and never replaced the radiator. Can't imagine why you would want to change it if it is doing OK. My '90 accord failed approximately two year ago, and the failure was not catastrophic. Developed a small crack in the upper tank and my son drove it for another two months before I could get it home to replace it. Frank > My '90 accord failed approximately two year ago, and the failure was > not catastrophic. Developed a small crack in the upper tank and my > son drove it for another two months before I could get it home to > replace it. My '93 Accord's first rad was replaced in 2000, and the second one was about due for replacement when I parted with the car a few months ago. In both cases, the issue was corrosion. Since I live in an area that sees winter weather on a yearly basis (not once in a blue moon like some of the more southerly sections of the U.S. have seen lately), I always thought it was just winter elements that accelerated the corrosion. >> My '90 accord failed approximately two year ago, and the failure was >> not catastrophic. Developed a small crack in the upper tank and my [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >southerly sections of the U.S. have seen lately), I always thought it was >just winter elements that accelerated the corrosion. Could be, I'm in the south, don't have any corrosion issues. Mine cracked in the top tank (plastic of some sort) I would suspect from years of thermal cycling. Frank + 1 on don't touch it if it works fine. Any time I deviate from this rulle, I later regret... SignatureMishaA http://www.automotiveforums.com If you just want to be "preventative" ny all means do all the items other posters said. If you actually check your car, then you will know when its time. Yea there are rads that can last a LONG time and them there are others that get replaced from corrosion, physical damage of they just plain fall apart. You DO need to think about one other thing not addressed here so far: Water wetter is a GREAT product, BUT it doesnt have the corrosion inhibitors and seal lubricants that antifreeze has. Keep your trouble quotient low and fill with antifreeze after you check your radiator and hoses. -SP > What is your opinion of this? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Julien |
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